'It was so fast': Heroic police officer jumps off highway overpass to save little boy

Police Officer Jessie Ferreira Cavallo saw a boy running along the Saw Mill River Parkway in Yonkers, New York when she was on her way to work last week. 

The Hastings-on-Hudson officer was in shock as she watched the child climb over the guardrail and jump. 

So what did she do?

She jumped herself, a risky move that thankfully paid off.

She spoke to Journal News, explaining, "everything was happening so fast, and I think my adrenaline was pumping so high.''

Police officer Jessie Ferreira Cavallo said she was on her way to work Friday afternoon when she saw a boy climb up over a guardrail and jump several feet from an overpass onto concrete below. https://t.co/dgdmY7jB91

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"I just knew, when I looked down and saw him…he looked dead. I couldn't see anything other than blood. I thought to myself, 'He needs help. I need to help him'.

Then a woman in a military uniform appeared to help Jessie.

The two of them started to give the unresponsive boy CPR and they then strapped a neck brace on him.

At a nearby hospital, the 12-year-old child was treated for broken bones. 

''After this whole thing happened, I went to work and worked to 11 p.m.," Jessie said according to SunnySkyz.  

"I didn't realise what was going on until yesterday. That's when it hit me. It seemed doable. I thought I jumped over a brick wall, or a cement barrier. It was so fast. It was more like tunnel vision. I saw the boy and I needed to get to him."

Kieran O'Leary, Westchester County Police spokeswoman explained that the boy had run off from an organisation that serves children with emotional and behavioural issues or special needs.

Members of staff had been trying to speak to him on the parkway when he was abut to jump. 

''I just want to give him a hug,'' Jessie said.

We wish him a speedy recovery and a huge well done to Officer Jessie Cavallo for her bravery and quick-thinking.